ABSTRACT Carotenoids are incorporated into the diet of laying hens in order to modify the yolk color. A natural source of carotenoids in tropical countries is annatto, which could be used in the diets of hens. This study aimed to evaluate the addition of natural (annatto) and synthetic carotenoids to the diet of laying hens (commercial and alternative) and their effects on yolk color and consumer sensory perception of fresh and stored eggs obtained from two different preparations (boiled and fried). Physicochemical analysis of proximate composition, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), emulsion activity and instrumental color were performed. Cooking caused significant alterations to the moisture in the preparations and this may have directly affected the color intensity, influencing factors related to egg appearance. In this study, 85 % of the panelists indicated that yolk color is an important attribute of the product’s quality. There was no antioxidant effect of the carotenoids in raw eggs. Synthetic additives should be better dosed to obtain the desired effect. Storage did not alter the proximate composition of the eggs.

A coloração da gema, transparência e viscosidade da clara (albúmen) são parâmetros importantes que os consumidores consideram na avaliação dos ovos. O objetivo do estudo foi verificar as trocas que ocorrem na armazenagem por 36 dias em relação à viscosidade da clara de ovos produzidos por poedeiras de duas diferentes linhagens (Carijo Barbada eIsa Brown ), as quais receberam dietas contendo urucum (1,5 e 2,0%) ou aditivo sintético. Foram realizadas as análises de umidade, altura do albúmen, pH, viscosidade, formação e estabilidade da espuma. A linhagem Carijó Barbada apresentou menor quantidade de albúmen, menor umidade e maior viscosidade que a linhagem Isa Brown, entretanto, com a estocagem, a viscosidade diminuiu significativamente para ambas as linhagens. Inicialmente, a adição de 2,0% de urucum ou aditivo sintético foi suficiente para aumentar a viscosidade em ovos obtidos de ambas as linhagens, mas com a estocagem, somente o controle manteve maior viscosidade. A baixa viscosidade não interferiu na densidade e estabilidade da espuma.

Yolk color and egg white (albumen) cleanliness and viscosity are important parameters by which consumers judge the quality of eggs. This study aimed to investigate changes in albumen viscosity during storage of eggs for up to 36 days from two different commercial laying hen strains (Carijo Barbada and Isa Brown) fed a diet containing annatto (1.5 and 2.0%) or a synthetic additive without synthetic colorants (control). Analyses of humidity, albumen height, pH, viscosity, foam formation, and stability were carried out on eggs. Carijo Barbada strain had smaller albumen, lower humidity and higher egg white viscosity than Isa Brown strain; however, with storage, viscosity lowered significantly on both strains. Initially, the addition of 2.0% of annatto or a synthetic additive increased viscosity in both strains, but with storage only the control maintained longer viscosity. Lower viscosity did not change foam density and stability.

A pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar os atributos de qualidade e de durabilidade dos ovos de duas diferentes linhagens de poedeiras, com dietas contendo aditivos artificiais ou naturais, em diferentes períodos de armazenamento. Foram quantificadas durante o armazenamento as variáveis perda de peso, pH da gema e albúmen, gravidade específica, índice de gema (IG) e foi realizada também classificação por peso e Unidade Haugh (UH). Os resultados foram avaliados segundo teste de Tukey (P≤0,05). As linhagens diferiram quanto à classificação extra dos ovos, com maior porcentagem para a Isa Brown. Os ovos obtidos das poedeiras Carijó apresentaram maior porcentagem de gema (Carijó 30,66 e Isa-Brown 24,55). O tempo de armazenamento fez com que a porcentagem de gema aumentasse nas duas linhagens (Carijó 30,66 tempo zero para 34,85 depois de 36 dias; e Isa- Brown de 24,55 para 27,48). As dietas com aditivos artificiais ou naturais não influenciaram a porcentagem de clara (% Clara 58,72 Controle; 59,52 Aditivo; 60,11 Urucum 1,5%; 59,43 e de gema %Gema 27,64 Controle; 27,90 Aditivo; 27,21 Urucum 1,5%; 27,66 Urucum 2%). O pH da clara diferiu entre os tratamentos no tempo inicial e aos 36 dias de armazenamento, mas o pH da gema não diferiu durante todo o armazenamento. O índice de gema diferiu nos tempos de armazenamento, mas não diferiu considerando os tratamentos. Em dietas com aditivos artificiais ou naturais, as linhagens e os tempos de armazenamento influenciam na qualidade e durabilidade dos ovos.

The research has the aim of evaluating quality and durability attributes of eggs from two hens lines feed with and without natural or synthetics additives, at several storage periods. During storage, weight lost, albumen and yolk pH, specific gravity andyolk index (IG) were quantified , as well as, weight classification and Haugh Unit (HU) The results were analyzed by Tukey test (P≤0.05). Quality differences are bigger by lines and storage time and the extra classification of eggs were higher for Isa Brown. The egg of Carijó hens presented more yolk percentage (Carijó 30.66 e Isa-Brown 24.55). The storage higher increased yolk percentage (Carijó 30.66 time zero for 34.85 after 36 days; and Isa- Brown 24.55 for 27.48). Two lines diets with natural or synthetics additives didn't influence the white and yolk percentage (%white 58.72 Control; 59.52 Aditive; 60.11 Urucum 1.5%; 59.43 e de yolk and 27.64 Control; 27.90 Aditive; 27.21 Urucum 1.5%; 27.66 Urucum 2%). Clear pH differs among treatments at initial time and at 36 days of storage, but the yolk pH didn't chage during all storage. The yolk index differed in the storage time, but not at treatments. So, it's possible to concluded that diets with natural and synthetics additives, lines and storage times had influenced quality and durability attributes in the eggs.